Hi all, Josh here from upstate NY. Just bought my first volvo, a '97 960. 109k miles.

Was taking it on a cruise after cleaning the throttle body and the upper radiator hose neck broke off the radiator and I blew coolant everywhere. I was able to pull over and shut the car off just as the needle hit the red on the temp guage. The oil indicator light flashed for just a second or two while coolant light stayed on for a while until I added water.

There was enough of the neck left intact to reattach the hose. I added some water and limped home 2 miles. Temp guage was normal on the drive home.

Removed the old radiator, captured the coolant in a plastic tub. It looked normal "green" with no signs of oil. Once I lifted the radiator out and turned it on it's side, black oil came running out of the top hole where the metal hose connects. Looks like oil only to me.

Is my car ruined? Is this a sign of a blown head gasket? What about the oil cooler? Could this have something to do with it? Plan on installing a new radiator tomorrow. Thanks for the help.

 

That is likely transmission fluid. Install a new radiator and flush the transmission with fresh fluid, sounds like it's long overdue.

 

Unlikely to be black if it's trans fluid, even when it's REALLY burnt it still stays a brown colour.
I would proceed with caution and to the usual blown headgasket tests.

 

Thanks! Just hoping it's nothing more than a new radiator. The transmission fluid is clear and red.

Once I removed the radiator I saw a smaller radiator in front of it. What is this for?

 

Just to confirm I just dumped what was left in the radiator on a paper towel. I also wiped the oil dip stick next to it. The oil was light brown on the paper towel. What came out of the radiator was more a light red to reddish brown color. When moving the radiator around I could hear the inner brass colored tank moving around inside.

Does this sound more like transmission fluid?

 

Sad to say that I have some BLACK transmission fluid that I can send you. I drained it out of my 850 transmission. The first 2 drains were totally black, the third drain had a tint of red in it. The transmission is currently being replaced as we speak. It got me around but had NO 1st gear, slipped in 2nd and would NOT kick down when I punched it.

 

"Metal Hose"?? Do you mean the metal line that screws on the right-side (passenger's) of the radiator or the large rubber hose (whose neck you broke) on the left (driver's) side?


That's the AC Condenser. Is your AC working, i.e. the AC Condenser not leaking yet?

I ask this because these condenser are notorious for leaks where metal clamps are attached to this aluminum condenser. If that's the case, to remove the condenser, the radiator must be removed to do that.